How to Survive a Ten-Year Breakup

By: Noreen Wainwright

The end of a 10-year marriage or relationship is very likely to be painful and traumatic. But, a person in this situation can emerge on the other side, stronger and ultimately happier. Anyone going through a breakup should cling to that thought. But, it helps to be realistic about the process. Watching television drama characters and celebrities seemingly recover and move on at an amazing speed can set unrealistic expectations for ordinary mortals. Ten years is a long time. You are not going to get over this in 5 minutes, and there are no short cuts. However, there are measures you can take to help yourself.

Step 1

Allow yourself to indulge in tears and reminiscence. Take advantage of friends' offers to lend you a shoulder on which to cry. However, set yourself some limits on these types of moments. When you have listened to music, looked at happy photographs and cried, force yourself to do something to help another person. Not only is this a kindness, but it will succeed in shifting your focus from your own situation, if only for a while. Helping someone else also will do wonders for your self-esteem, which is likely to be low at this time.

Step 2

Stop imagining reconciliation scenes. Avoid places and activities that are associated with your ex. Stop yourself from late-night texting and phoning. Tell yourself how much better you will feel tomorrow if you stop. Focus on maintaining your dignity, though this may be hard. If you have been rejected and humiliated by the other person, tell yourself that the best revenge is to be happy.

Step 3

Accept invitations and go out, even if this is the last thing you feel like doing. You will be glad you made the effort. Every time you find yourself viewing the past through rose-colored glasses remind yourself of the things that were so wrong about the relationship. This might seem like a negative thing to do, but it will force you to take a more realistic view of the relationship that has ended. This will help you to move forward.

References

About the Author

Noreen Wainwright has been writing since 1997. Her work has appeared in "The Daily Telegraph," "The Guardian," "The Countryman" and "The Lady." She has a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences from Liverpool Polytechnic and a postgraduate law degree from Staffordshire University.